Mike Duffy Trial: A Comparison Between His Senate Expense Claims And Diary Entries

OTTAWA - Suspended senator Mike Duffy faces 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery, all relating to expense claims he made while part of the Conservative caucus. The RCMP alleges that a number of those charges are related to "inappropriate expenses related to personal and partisan activity." The following eight entries, taken from documents filed in court, compare what Duffy said on his Senate expense claim form with what he wrote in his personal diary for the same dates.

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Date(s): June 20, 2009

What he claimed in his Senate travel expenses: Trip to Toronto from Ottawa for a speaking engagement related to Senate business.

Amount claimed: Duffy billed $856 to his Senate American Express card and put in for $377 in expenses.

What his personal diary says: Duffy spent the previous day in Peterborough with then-Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro; on June 20, drove to Cambray, Ont., for an event with Conservative MP Barry Devolin, then took a taxi to Pearson Airport in Toronto and flew home to Ottawa with an unnamed Federal Court judge.

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Date(s): Between June 21-26, 2009

What he claimed in his Senate travel expenses: Trips with his wife to Ottawa, Comox, B.C., Vancouver, Prince George, B.C. and Kelowna, B.C., for a series of speaking engagements related to Senate business.

Amount claimed: Duffy billed $5,970 to his Senate American Express card and put in for $508 in expenses.

What his personal diary says: Discussed pension bridging and local mayors with veterans' representatives and later took part in an event for Conservative MP John Duncan in Comox; had dinner with his kids at a restaurant in Vancouver and the following day attended a Fraser Institute reception; took part in a lunch-time fundraiser in Prince George and later attended a golf tournament reception; spoke to local radio stations and newspapers and took part in a charity golf tournament the following day in Prince George.

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Date(s): Sept. 5-8, 2009

What he claimed in his Senate travel expenses: Trip to Vancouver with his wife for Senate business.

Amount claimed: Duffy billed $7,843 to his Senate American Express card and put in for $461 in expenses.

What his personal diary says: Travelled to Vancouver on Sept. 5 to attend his daughter Miranda's play at the Jericho Playhouse; had planned to travel to Victoria the following day for a public event with Conservative MP Gary Lunn, but cancelled and had dinner with his children at The Keg in Vancouver; On Sept. 7, spoke to Sen. Linda Frum, stayed behind while his wife and someone named Janey hiked Grouse Mountain, went out for dinner and chatted with a Vancouver casting director; On Sept. 8, had discussions about insulation and storing a television and flew back to Ottawa.

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Date(s): July 2-3, 2010

What he claimed in his Senate travel expenses: Duffy and his wife travelled to Peterborough, Ont., on "public business," for what he said were meetings with local officials to discuss "broadcasting issues."

Amount claimed: Duffy put in for $698 in expenses.

What his personal diary says: On. July 2, Duffy and his wife drove to Peterborough and spent the night at a Super 8 motel; the next morning, they had coffee with Del Mastro and his wife. Later that day, Duffy attended a Canadian Kennel Club show and luncheon before driving to Pembroke, Ont., for dinner at a restaurant before returning to Ottawa.

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Date(s): Dec. 9-12, 2010

What he claimed in his Senate travel expenses: Travelled with his wife to Vancouver on Senate business for speaking engagements and meetings.

Amount claimed: Duffy billed $9,750 to his Senate American Express card and put in for $901 in expenses.

What his personal diary says: On Dec. 9, his daughter went into labour and gave birth to a baby boy. Duffy and his wife flew to Vancouver that afternoon and he attended a fundraiser for Cockrell House in Colwood, B.C., that evening. He spent the night at his son's home; the following day, Duffy and his wife visited his daughter at the hospital. Later that day, Duffy flew to Victoria for another fundraiser for Cockrell House and attended a Christmas party that evening.

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Date(s): Dec. 20, 2011 to Jan. 5, 2012

What he claimed in his Senate travel expenses: Travelled to Vancouver with his wife on Senate business.

Amount claimed: Duffy billed $3,883 to his Senate American Express card and put in for $580 in expenses.

What his personal diary says: On Dec. 30, Duffy, his wife, his son and his daughter-in-law flew to Vancouver. At the airport lounge, they met Conservative cabinet minister James Moore and his wife, Courtney Payne of the Prime Minister's Office; the next day, Duffy started taking antibiotics to fight the flu. While his kids shopped at Costco, he sent a speech by Sen. David Tkachuk on the Conservative crime bill to a Halifax journalist and to the National Post. That night, he rang in the new year with his family; He spent Jan. 1 with his family. On Jan. 2, Duffy complained of being congested and having a sore left heel. He also got a haircut and went shopping before meeting Conservative MP Andrew Saxton for a $400 dinner at The Keg; He met Saxton again the following day at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club to chat about the budget and other matters. He spent the rest of the day with his family. On Jan. 4, Duffy had breakfast with his kids and then emailed the City of Charlottetown about "heritage issues." He and his wife returned to Ottawa that night.; On Jan. 5, he sent an invoice.

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Date(s): July 9-10, 2012

What he claimed in his Senate travel expenses: Travelled with his wife from Charlottetown to Ottawa and back again for a medical appointment with a specialist in Ottawa.

Amount claimed: Duffy billed $3,025 to his Senate American Express card and put in for $146 in expenses.

What his personal diary says: On July 9, Duffy and his wife flew to Ottawa. He made a phone call once they returned to their home in Kanata, then had dinner at Capone's; the next day, Duffy had a medical appointment in the morning. Later that day, he did an interview at the Sun News Network studio in downtown Ottawa. He and his wife returned to Charlottetown that evening.

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Date(s): Sept. 11-13, 2012

What he claimed in his Senate travel expenses: Travelled with his wife from Charlottetown to Ottawa and back again on Senate business for a speaking engagement.

Amount claimed: Duffy billed $3,001 to his Senate American Express card and put in for $140 in expenses.

What his personal diary says: On Sept. 11, Duffy and his wife flew to Ottawa from Charlottetown and took a taxi to their home in Kanata; The next day, Duffy met with Senate IT about his BlackBerry and signed some documents over at the Westin hotel, where he later took part in a photo-op and then met with the Ottawa Building Owners and Managers group. That afternoon, he had a few medical appointments, then he went for dinner. He and his wife returned to Charlottetown the next day.